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Welcome to Etsy!

The global marketplace for vintage and handmade items.

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aliciawatkins

Shop owner

Due to Covid-19 and my desire to use only supplies that have been in my possession long enough to ensure no risk of infection, I will be substituting oatmeal or otherwise off-white Aida cloth in my 5x7 or larger kits for at least one of the pieces of Aida that come with your kit. I may also substitute DMC embroidery floss colors in certain kits with very similar floss colors, until I'm able to replenish my stock with safely quarantined materials.

PLEASE NOTE: For now, I'm not able to continue to offer 8x10 self-stick mounting boards in my 8x10 DIY kits. The mounting boards I've used and put into my kits for years are simply no longer available at the prices or in the quantities I need to continue to offer them. I've adjusted my kit prices accordingly; as always, please see the listing details before purchasing so you know for sure what you're getting!

PLEASE NOTE: DOUBLE CHECK YOUR ADDRESS when you check out. Check the email you get from Etsy confirming your order as well, to be sure your order is being sent to the right place. I don't offer refunds to items delivered to an old address.

Read the shop policies and the listing you're purchasing before ordering. (You probably don't need to have it repeated if you're reading this announcement blurb, you avid reader you, but here it is again: please, please read the listing you're purchasing before ordering, so that you're not sad when you get your cool cross stitched item. I don't want you to be sad. Cross stitch is a fun-time craft.)

Welcome to the cross stitchery! There are other Wall and off-the-wall Stuffs coming, but for now, revel in the multicolored threads and the simultaneously ironic and earnest needlework of what I've got here. REVEL IN THEM.

Especially during the holiday season, if you've convo'd me and I don't get back to you right away, please read the entire listing you had questions about or look over my shop in general -- you may find an answer to your questions there! Please forgive my lateness in responding to you, and please do feel free to write again if I haven't replied in my usual time frame to pop your convo back to the top of my inbox. I promise that I want to respond to everyone, and I apologize for any delays. I'll be prioritizing answering questions that aren't already answered in my listings, shop policies, or shop in general.

I love to do custom work during the non-holiday months! I try to work on one custom project at a time so that I can give each project my full customizing attention; as a result, a significant lead time on deadlines for receiving your custom order is very much appreciated. If possible, try to contact me at least a month in advance of a deadline for receiving a 5x7 custom cross stitch. (That said, if you're in a pinch and you know I'm the stitcher for the job, convo me anyway! If I happen to be in between custom orders, I can often get things out in a much shorter time, and like I said, I love working with customers on personalized stitchery.)

If you've read this far into my shop announcements, here's a joke to reward you:

What do you call an alligator in a vest? *An investigator.*

You're welcome.

Alrighty. Back to the stitching.

Announcement

Last updated on May 3, 2020

PLEASE NOTE: READ THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE ORDERING!

Due to Covid-19 and my desire to use only supplies that have been in my possession long enough to ensure no risk of infection, I will be substituting oatmeal or otherwise off-white Aida cloth in my 5x7 or larger kits for at least one of the pieces of Aida that come with your kit. I may also substitute DMC embroidery floss colors in certain kits with very similar floss colors, until I'm able to replenish my stock with safely quarantined materials.

PLEASE NOTE: For now, I'm not able to continue to offer 8x10 self-stick mounting boards in my 8x10 DIY kits. The mounting boards I've used and put into my kits for years are simply no longer available at the prices or in the quantities I need to continue to offer them. I've adjusted my kit prices accordingly; as always, please see the listing details before purchasing so you know for sure what you're getting!

PLEASE NOTE: DOUBLE CHECK YOUR ADDRESS when you check out. Check the email you get from Etsy confirming your order as well, to be sure your order is being sent to the right place. I don't offer refunds to items delivered to an old address.

Read the shop policies and the listing you're purchasing before ordering. (You probably don't need to have it repeated if you're reading this announcement blurb, you avid reader you, but here it is again: please, please read the listing you're purchasing before ordering, so that you're not sad when you get your cool cross stitched item. I don't want you to be sad. Cross stitch is a fun-time craft.)

Welcome to the cross stitchery! There are other Wall and off-the-wall Stuffs coming, but for now, revel in the multicolored threads and the simultaneously ironic and earnest needlework of what I've got here. REVEL IN THEM.

Especially during the holiday season, if you've convo'd me and I don't get back to you right away, please read the entire listing you had questions about or look over my shop in general -- you may find an answer to your questions there! Please forgive my lateness in responding to you, and please do feel free to write again if I haven't replied in my usual time frame to pop your convo back to the top of my inbox. I promise that I want to respond to everyone, and I apologize for any delays. I'll be prioritizing answering questions that aren't already answered in my listings, shop policies, or shop in general.

I love to do custom work during the non-holiday months! I try to work on one custom project at a time so that I can give each project my full customizing attention; as a result, a significant lead time on deadlines for receiving your custom order is very much appreciated. If possible, try to contact me at least a month in advance of a deadline for receiving a 5x7 custom cross stitch. (That said, if you're in a pinch and you know I'm the stitcher for the job, convo me anyway! If I happen to be in between custom orders, I can often get things out in a much shorter time, and like I said, I love working with customers on personalized stitchery.)

If you've read this far into my shop announcements, here's a joke to reward you:

Now that I've had this kit for a few days and have started working on it, I can confidently say it's AMAZING! The pattern is easy to read and everything I needed was included in the kit (though I eventually switched to a larger hoop). I was particularly happy to see that the different thread colors for each microbe were bundled together! I was having a hard time differentiating between colors on the chart, but was able to figure it out thanks to the thoughtful packaging. I'm really impressed and excited to finish!

Perfect kit for a beginner! Required a bit of patience on my end since I've never cross stitched before, but loved the quote enough that it was worth it. I appreciate the two pieces of cloth so I can make one for me and one for a friend!

Pagination

About aliciawatkins

Sales
16,974

On Etsy since 2011

Microbes

Sarcastic cross stitch

Samplers (Little Omar pictured)

Patterns

Kits

I like turtles. I mean, cross stitch.

When it comes to cross stitch, I ask two standard questions: is the design funny or unique in the context of historical craft? And does it also earnestly incorporate the things we love now into that history?

I stitch things that answer those questions in ways that I find interesting. In my shop you'll find rude/sarcastic stereotypically-un-feminine sayings, science-focused projects like the microbe collection I've been adding to since 2012, or meme-based images that make the ephemeral internet culture we live in slightly more...phemeral?

I occasionally teach local classes in basic cross stitch, really enjoy selling my wares at the monthly Love Local market hosted by Get Baked -- a bakery in Windsor CT with dangerously tasty food items -- and in general spend most of my days walking around with stray thread stuck to some portion of my sleeve.

Away from the shop, I give my stitching fingers a rest and stay busy creating by working on a short-episode, mostly scripted podcast, called Nihilist Podcast Network (found anywhere podcasts are found, and also at its own website), with my husband and friends. In 2015, my husband and I also completed a year-long writing/music project called Paulicia's Weekly Whatnot, which you can find on Facebook or youtube (for just the music), or probably just by Googling.

Around the web

Shop members

Alicia Watkins

I'm weird, and I like weird stuff. Probably just like you do. I have a M.A. in watching TV (for real).
In my free time, I listen to one jillion podcasts and watch two jillion YouTube channels.

Shop policies

Last updated onOctober 16, 2019

PLEASE NOTE: Before convo'ing me, please read these shop policies and also read the ENTIRE listing description of the item you'd like to purchase -- click "Read All" if you're on a mobile device. I will be prioritizing answering questions that are not already answered in listings or here in policies, first, to try to provide the best customer service I can to everybody. I've ended up *extremely* far behind in convos in the past due to the volume of correspondence and the fact that it's only me answering them -- and because I tend to respond at length! (So if you're looking for a short answer instead of reading the long, detailed listings I tend to write, well, convo'ing me might not be the best option. ;) )

Please forgive my lateness in responding to you if I don't get back to you within that time frame, and please do feel free to write again if I haven't replied within a few days, to bump your convo up to the top of my inbox. I promise that I want to respond to everyone, and I apologize for the delays.

Unless specified otherwise in the item description (which it usually is), I strive to get my items out into the mail within 2 weeks of your order. If you need something sooner, let me know -- preferably before you make a purchase, if there's a deadline coming up quickly -- and we'll see what we can do.

The "Ready to Ship" section of my shop is perfect for last minute gifts!

In cases of a general backlog, I'll make a note in my banner and shop announcements (below the banner), and here in the shop policies, or I'll put a note in the purchase confirmation sent by Etsy, or contact you to let you know the expected time of shipping for the item you've purchased via Etsy convos. During the holidays, I will make every effort to update my shop policies and announcements to reflect longer shipping times when they're necessary so you know exactly when items should arrive before you purchase. In general, it's a good idea to order any item you want to have for Christmas gift-giving as early as possible, preferably by December 1.

Accepted payment methods

MastercardApple Pay

Accepts Etsy Gift Cards and Etsy Credits

Returns and exchanges

I gladly accept returns and exchanges

Contact me within: 14 days of delivery

Ship items back within: 30 days of delivery

I don't accept cancellations

But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.

The following items can't be returned or exchanged

Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:

Custom or personalized orders

Perishable products (like food or flowers)

Digital downloads

Intimate items (for health/hygiene reasons)

Questions about your order?

Please if you have any problems with your order.

Returns and exchange details

For items that arrive to you in good condition and are the correct things that were ordered via Etsy, I will accept returns or exchanges when the customer agrees to pay both the shipping cost of the original shipment (in the case of "free shipping" items, this means the cost of the postage label I printed out to send the item/s), and the cost of the return shipping, as well as a minimum $10 restocking fee (see paragraphs below for restocking fee details). Because I'm a small business owner, I try to use my time wisely, and spending time to create a finished cross stitch -- many of which take several hours to create -- or a kit, to ship and track it, and then to ship and track it back to me, comes at a cost that I'm not able to easily absorb. Please be sure you're ordering what you'd like to have before checking out in order to avoid the fees and the wasted time and effort on both our parts! :)

If you find you need to cancel a made-to-order item, and I have not yet started working on it (which usually happens a few hours after I receive the order! So be quick), I will refund you the full price minus fees (listing and Etsy fee). This is also my policy for already made items that have not been shipped, which is to say the "Ready to Ship" items in my shop. (Be very quick if you want to cancel a "Ready to Ship" item, as I often send those out on the same day I receive the order and may print the shipping label within an hour!) In general, both the finished cross stitch and the DIY kits in my shop are made-to-order.

If you need to cancel a made-to-order finished cross stitch I have already started working on but have not shipped, the restocking fee will be half the price or $10, whichever is higher, to make up for materials, labor and fees. (For instance, if an item is $20, I will refund $10 and shipping; if an item is $5, I will not refund; if an item is $40, I will refund $20 and shipping.) In some cases, a digital credit may be offered for PDF files in my shop in the amount of the unrefunded portion of the order.

If you've ordered a custom order that cannot be sold in my shop, and you'd like to cancel your order, contact me so we can discuss details. Expect to be refunded half or less of the original cost, barring extreme circumstances, in accordance with the policy above about made-to-order items I've already begun working on, and with the consideration that my work time cannot be recuperated when it comes to cancelled custom orders.

Orders that have already shipped cannot be cancelled or refunded without clear communication between you, the buyer, and me, the seller; expect to return the item at your own expense and have the cost of shipping and relevant listing fees deducted from your refund, please. The minimum fee will be a $10 restocking fee, in addition to the shipping and listing costs, and the items must return in salable condition with nothing missing to receive the partial refund.

ADDITIONAL SPECIFICS ABOUT REFUNDS:

PLEASE NOTE: DOUBLE CHECK YOUR ADDRESS when you check out. Check the email you get from Etsy confirming your order as well, to be sure your order is being sent to the right place. I don't offer refunds to items delivered to an old address, and several customers have contacted me to say that although they entered the correct address at checkout, the information that I ultimately received was an address where they hadn't lived for several years.

If your item does not arrive, or arrives damaged, please contact me.

I cannot replace broken frames, and because the price of my items is the same with or without framing (it's optional and free!), broken frames will not receive a refund.

Because needlework is best shown without being smushed up against glass, and because of the fragility of glass in transit, glass will not be included in the larger framed cross stitches. Please request that your stitch be sent either mounted or plain on cloth if this is unacceptable.

If the needlework itself arrives irreversibly damaged, please be willing to take a photo that shows the damage. If you asked for insurance on your shipment, I will replace the needlework (with an identical piece) as soon as possible. Upgrading to USPS Priority Mail provides $100 of shipping insurance, so selecting that shipping upgrade at checkout counts as requesting $100 worth of shipping insurance. If the item was uninsured, we can come up with a case-by-case solution, but I cannot guarantee a replacement in every case.

Replacements will be shipped without a frame except in cases of wood embroidery hoops.

If I've listed your item as "shipped," but it has not arrived in due time and the tracking number shows no progress toward its destination, let me know. (You may also want to contact the US Postal Service in this instance or if you are not in the U.S., your local post office or customs office.) I cannot guarantee a free replacement in every case.

Again, if an item is listed as "delivered" to the location you have on file with Etsy (or a specified location you include either in a convo or purchase order note), and you haven't received it, it is considered delivered. If that occurs, consider contacting your local post office and inquiring; ask neighbors if they saw your package; and, as a UPS delivery man once told me, "check the bushes." ; ) Unfortunately, in that instance I cannot offer you a replacement or a refund, as it is considered lost or stolen at its destination. (But always feel free to contact me in any case, as I certainly don't want you to feel disappointed in your purchase.)

Payment for shipped items that are not returned to me in salable condition will only be refunded in extreme circumstances.

Within the U.S., refunds or exchanges must be requested within 7 days of receiving your item; EU customers legally have 14 days to return their physical items, and I will comply with that requirement for EU customers.

Payment

Please see the Refunds and Exchanges (section of these shop policies) for more details on refunds, restocking fees, and shipping costs associated with cancellations or returns.

Etsy now collects and pays sales tax on items sold to other Connecticut residents; if you are living outside CT, please consult your state's tax laws to determine whether you owe use tax to your state for items purchased from my shop.

Within the U.S., refunds or exchanges must be requested within 7 days of receiving your item; EU customers legally have 14 days to return their physical items, and I will comply with that requirement for EU customers.

Shipping

Please make a note in your purchase order or contact me if you have a deadline by which you'd like to receive your stitchery so I can prioritize accordingly, even if you believe it will definitely reach you in time. : )

I send items out via USPS, usually first class and with tracking. I also now offer free U.S. shipping on microbes, and reduced cost international shipping! Domestic shipping costs are included in the price of the microbe cross stitches; please use the listings for multiple microbes to save money if you're buying more than one microbe!

Please be sure your address is correct *before* you check out and then check it again *after* you've checked out. If you need me to change your address for you, I can usually do that but I do not guarantee it. I will not replace or refund an item that is delivered to an address that you entered incorrectly (either by typing it in or automatically filled in by Paypal, etc.) or that you entered correctly but it was then switched in the process of checking out to a wrong or old address for reasons none of us can fathom. (This has happened to several customers who entered the correct address and then later found their items had gone to a place they hadn't lived in several years. Apparently the only way to prevent this is to delete all old addresses from your account so that the only available address for Etsy and the USPS to pass on to me is the correct one.)

PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK YOUR ADDRESS.

NOTE to UK CUSTOMERS: If your total order is valued above approximately $20 USD, please know that based on my experience, you have about a 50/50 chance of having your package stuck in customs in your country and waiting for you to pay a fee that will probably be NO LESS THAN £11. This will include a holding/processing fee of £8 plus the actual customs tax. For some reason, you will probably NOT be informed that your item is being held in customs, but if you see your package listed as "delivered" according to Etsy's tracking number and the USPS, it's very likely that customs is holding your package. I recommend you check with your local post office or customs office to try to locate your package; I can't do anything helpful for you from here. If you choose not to pay the fee, your package will probably get sent back to me after a few weeks. When I receive it back, my current policy is to refund the cost of the item (unless it is in any way a custom item), but not the cost of shipping, since it was shipped and did incur that cost. Contact me for details if this happens.

Please consider these facts before purchasing anything from my shop. By purchasing anything from my shop, you are agreeing to your country's customs laws and these shop policies.

International Buyers in general: Please note that import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to buying. I will not lie on customs forms, so please don't ask. Penalties for lying on a customs form are severe -- and sure, there's plenty of time to cross stitch in jail, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't let me bring a needle in there anyway.

If an item is listed as "delivered" to the location I am given as the shipping address via the transaction, and you haven't received it, it is considered delivered. If that occurs, consider contacting your local post office and inquiring; ask neighbors if they saw your package; and, as a UPS delivery man once told me, "check the bushes." ;) Unfortunately, in that instance I cannot offer you a replacement or a refund, as it is considered lost or stolen at its destination. (But feel free to contact me in any case, as I certainly don't want you to feel disappointed in your purchase.)

If the item never arrives according to the tracking number you will receive in a shipping confirmation email (directly from Etsy to the email address you have on file with the site), please contact me so we can discuss next steps.

If you would like insurance, PLEASE LET ME KNOW and I will invoice you for the additional shipping amount. I do not automatically include insurance in my shipping rates for most items because it adds cost. I will sometimes insure higher priced items, which will be reflected in slightly higher shipping charges.

When the item is 5x7 or larger, Priority mail or Priority flat rate are occasionally cheaper, and in that case, your items will be sent priority. In rare cases, I may ship larger pieces with heavier frames parcel post.

Framed cross stitches will be wrapped in clean paper and sent in either a yellow envelope or (if relevant) a box, unless you request otherwise. Glass will not be included in the frames, and refunds are not available for frames, which are secondhand and free to you.

For international shipments outside the U.S., 4x6 or larger cross stitch pieces will be sent without a frame. The cost of shipping a secondhand frame is prohibitive, and it's very likely you can purchase a better frame in your local area for less. Instead, the stitch will be sent to you ready to frame yourself, mounted on a self-stick mounting board. Please convo me with your preferred dimensions if your area uses standard framing measurements that do not rely on inches, and I will cut the board to your standard.

Within the U.S., refunds or exchanges must be requested within 7 days of receiving your item; EU customers legally have 14 days to return their physical items, and I will comply with that requirement for EU customers.

Additional policies and FAQs

Unless specified otherwise in the listing, the frames I use, especially with 4x6 and 5x7 cross stitches, are secondhand and will vary from item to item. I believe in this policy because it's eco-friendly, supports the local thrift shops in my area, and it allows me to frame your items, if you'd like that, at very low cost.

I do not frame finished work that is 8x10 or larger except in special circumstances when I have been convo'ed in advance of an order.

I cannot send you a photo of your options for any secondhand framing sizes in my shop; I have too many frames and a too quickly rotating stock for that. However, you're welcome to let me know your preferences in color and material (i.e. wood, metal, plastic) and I'll do what I can to accommodate your wishes.

Because they are unique and unapproved by you, I do not pass on the cost of the 4x6 or larger secondhand frames to you, except for the cost of shipping (usually about a $2 difference). This is why international orders do not receive a discount for frameless stitchery -- because the frames are free. (International shipping reflects the real cost of sending a mounted, unframed cross stitch. Smaller stitches ship as shown in most cases, but please see individual listings for details.)

When you order an item from me, rest assured that you are only paying for the stitchwork (plus other relevant materials), and you may treat the frame as a "suggestion" -- if you don't like it, give the frame away! Your 4x6 or larger cross stitch will come with a mounting board that will allow you to easily pop it out of the "suggested" frame I've sent it in and into any same-sized frame of your choice.

If you're pretty sure you'll dislike the frame I'd send, please request that your stitch be sent either mounted on board ready for you to frame, or on just the cross stitch cloth, and I'll save the frame for future customers. :)

Again, because needlework is best shown without being smushed up against glass, and because of the fragility of glass in transit, glass will not be included in 3x5 or larger framed cross stitches and often left out of mini frames as well. Please request that your stitch be sent either mounted or plain on cloth if this is unacceptable.

AGAIN, NOTE to UK CUSTOMERS: If your total order is valued above approximately $20 USD, please know that based on my experience, you have about a 50/50 chance of having your package stuck in customs in your country and waiting for you to pay a fee that will probably be NO LESS THAN £11. This will include a holding/processing fee of £8 plus the actual customs tax. For some reason, you will probably NOT be informed that your item is being held in customs, but if you see your package listed as "delivered" according to Etsy's tracking number and the USPS, it's very likely that customs is holding your package. I recommend you check with your local post office or customs office to try to locate your package; I can't do anything helpful for you from here. If you choose not to pay the fee, your package will probably get sent back to me after a few weeks. When I receive it back, my current policy is to refund the cost of the item (unless it is in any way a custom item), but not the cost of shipping, since it was shipped and did incur that cost.

Please consider these facts before purchasing anything from my shop. By purchasing anything over about $20 USD, you are agreeing to your country's customs laws and these shop policies.

More information

Last updated onApr 25, 2018

Frequently asked questions

Custom and personalized orders

I love to do custom work during the non-holiday months! I try to work on one custom project at a time so that I can give each project my full customizing attention; as a result, a significant lead time on deadlines for receiving your custom order is very much appreciated.

If possible, try to contact me at least a month in advance of a deadline for receiving a 5x7 custom cross stitch. (That said, if you're in a pinch and you know I'm the stitcher for the job, convo me anyway! If I happen to be in between custom orders, I can often get things out in a much shorter time, and like I said, I love working with customers on personalized stitchery.)

Gift wrapping and packaging

Most of my small finished cross stitches have an option for gift wrapping.

If you don't see a drop-down list as you purchase a small hooped or framed cross stitch (smaller than 4x6), but you would like your item to be wrapped in plain paper (with a small notecard for your message included), request gift wrap as you check out in the "notes to seller"!

If you're having your gift sent directly to the recipient, please double-check the address it's going to before you finish checking out, and let me know what you'd like me to write in the notecard to your recipient! :)

Etsy has a "this is a gift!" option that helps you tell me not to include a receipt -- I don't anyway! -- but I do not gift-wrap large items or kits.

Wholesale availability

Mini kits are available for wholesale ordering at any time; contact me for details on which kits I have available with shelf-ready labeling, and for pricing details!

I also offer a selection of finished cross stitch available for wholesale or certain consignment situations, for stores that feel my work would be a good fit. Contact me if you're interested in carrying my work in your store, and we'll talk about what I've done in the past and what you're looking for! :)

I don't like my secondhand frame! It's ugly/broken/scratched/the wrong color/not my style. What can you do to help me out?

I believe in using secondhand frames because it's eco-friendly, supports my local thrift shops, and allows me to frame your items, if you'd like that, at very low cost.

Because they are unique and unapproved by you, I don't pass on the cost of the secondhand frames to you, except for the cost of shipping (usually about a $2 difference).

When you order an item from me, rest assured that you are only paying for the stitchwork, and you may treat the frame as a "suggestion" -- if you don't like it, give the frame away! Your 4x6 or larger cross stitch will come with a mounting board that will allow you to easily pop it out of the "suggested" frame I've sent it in and into any same-sized frame of your choice.

Can I see a photo of the secondhand frame you would send before I order/before you send an item framed in a secondhand frame?

I can't send you a photo of your options for secondhand frames; I have too many frames and a too quickly rotating stock for that. However, you're welcome to let me know your preferences in color and material (i.e. wood, metal, plastic) and I'll do what I can to accommodate your wishes.

If you receive your stitchwork and you HATE the frame I chose from my cache of secondhand frames, never fear! The stitching for a 4x6 or larger frame will be mounted on a board that you can simply pop out of the secondhand frame you received, and pop INto a frame you choose from a local store, another Etsy seller, or anywhere you find perfect frames.

Because the secondhand frames I send are free, I cannot offer replacements or frame-related refunds.

How do I learn to do counted cross stitch?

Google and Youtube are your BFFs in learning to cross stitch, but if you've purchased a kit or pattern from my shop, I can also offer you a Basic Cross Stitch instruction booklet via email. Just let me know you'd like one, and I'll send it along! :)

Do your kits include fabric with the pattern already stamped on it?

Nope! What I sell are patterns and kits for original counted cross stitch designs, which means you'll be using a printed pattern (or your computer screen if you prefer -- being able to zoom in on a detail can be very helpful!), almost the way you would use a map to navigate in a city.
The details of what is included in each of my kits can be found in the listing for that kit. Click "read more" under the pics for details.
If you've never tried counted cross stitch before, many of my patterns are beginner-friendly, and I'm happy to say that many first-time stitchers have reported fun and success with my kits. I'm also happy to send you a Basic Cross Stitch instruction book via email. Just let me know you'd like one, and I'll send it along!